Accountants for Contractors, Consultants & Freelancers
Accounting and tax support for independent professionals.
We provide accounting and tax support for independent professionals operating as sole traders or through limited companies. Whether you contract through your own company or trade in your own name, we keep your records, returns and filings in order and explain what you owe and when.
Based in Greater Manchester, supporting clients across the UK.
At a glance
- Who it is for
- Contractors, consultants and freelancers, including IT and other professionals
- How you work
- As a sole trader, or through your own limited company
- What we prepare
- Self Assessment returns, or company accounts, Corporation Tax returns and director payroll
- Planning
- Salary, dividends and expenses reviewed before decisions are made
- Support
- Bookkeeping and records, VAT where you are registered
How we support independent professionals
Contractors working through a limited company
We prepare your company’s annual accounts and Company Tax Return, and support director payroll. See Annual Accounts & Corporation Tax.
Freelancers and sole traders
We prepare your Self Assessment return and help you keep records and claim allowable expenses. See Self Assessment & Personal Tax.
VAT and records
We handle VAT registration and returns where they apply, and keep your books ready for reporting. See VAT & Making Tax Digital and Bookkeeping & Cloud Accounting.
Salary, dividends and planning
We review how you take income from your company before decisions are made. See Tax Planning.
Contractor accountants: sole trader or limited company?
Independent professionals can trade as a sole trader or through a limited company. GOV.UK describes a sole trader as the simplest structure to set up and keep records for, and a limited company as legally separate from the people who own it, with directors who carry specific responsibilities. The structure you choose affects how you pay tax and your legal responsibilities, and you can change later; it is usually easier to move from sole trader to limited company.
There is no single right answer. The better structure depends on your income, expenses, clients, contracts and plans. We set out the practical differences for you, including the filings, records and costs involved, so you can decide with the facts in front of you. We do not promise a saving from either route.
Off-payroll working rules (IR35)
If you provide services to a client through your own company or another intermediary, HMRC’s off-payroll working rules (often called IR35) can apply. GOV.UK explains that they make sure a worker pays broadly the same Income Tax and National Insurance as an employee would, where the worker would have been an employee if providing the services directly to the client.
Whether the rules apply depends on your contract and how you actually work. We explain what the rules mean for your tax position and filings. Where you need a specialist review of a contract, we say so and point you to an appropriate professional. Source: GOV.UK, Understanding off-payroll working (IR35).
Contractors in the construction industry
If you work in construction, the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) may apply to your payments. CIS is separate from the off-payroll rules above and has its own monthly reporting. See Payroll & CIS.
What we review for contractors, consultants and freelancers
- Income from each client or contract, and how it is paid
- Business expenses that are allowable for your structure
- Salary, dividends and director payroll if you have a company
- VAT registration and returns where they apply
- Your records, so claims and filings are supported
Records are the foundation. GOV.UK sets out what self-employed people must record; see business records if you’re self-employed (checked 11 November 2026).
How we work with you
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Understand how you workWe review your contracts, clients and structure.
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Set up recordsWe agree how income and expenses are recorded, in your software or ours.
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Prepare and explainWe prepare your returns and filings and explain the figures.
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Approve and fileWe file after you approve.
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Plan aheadWe review salary, dividends, expenses and payment dates for the coming year.
What affects the fee for contractors and freelancers
We do not publish fixed prices. The fee depends on your structure, the number of clients and transactions, whether you are VAT registered or run payroll, and how organised your records are. We agree the scope and fee in writing before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to common questions about this service.
Should I be a sole trader or contract through a limited company?
It depends on your income, expenses, clients and plans. GOV.UK notes that the structure affects tax and legal responsibilities. We explain the practical differences so you can choose.
Can you advise on IR35?
We explain how the off-payroll working rules affect your tax position and filings. Where a contract needs specialist review, we say so and refer you to an appropriate professional.
Can you support me if I am a CIS contractor or subcontractor?
Yes. We provide CIS reporting support for contractors and subcontractors in construction.
Becoming a Client
Contact us to discuss how you work, whether as a sole trader or through your own company, and the accounting and tax support you need.
We agree the scope and fees in writing before work begins. Any additional work and costs are agreed with you in advance.